Tips & Tricks: October Gardening

Try to catch up on the cleaning of the beds: actually do not usually do too much but this year, I wasn’t overly happy with the beds (5 years of the same, more or less) so I started to move a lot of plants around!

I usually leave all the flowers so the birds and small animals can feed throughout the cold season! This year they will have a little bit less so I guess the feeders better be full at all times!:-)

-- Eklectic, Follow my Bliss, South East Ontario 5a

I hope to move some of my plants this fall as well. I intend to start right after Thanksgiving (Oct 12 in Canada ), if the weather cooperates. Otherwise it will be “next year”. Of course we will also be busy with the bulbs and tubers, and moving the tropicals inside.

-- jroot

POND: I have to remove the plants from the pond. I read somewhere that when the temperature gets down to 50 F then it is time to get the plants out of the water and remove all of the leaves etc that have fallen into the pond.
I think I’ll leave the pump in the water until it gets even colder.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Thanks. I forgot about the pond. This year should be easier, as I installed a bottom drain for cleaning.

-- jroot

October in the yard … for me, it is emptying all my containers, hanging baskets, tables and whatnot items, then storing them in the basement. Also begin cutting down, clearing out my flower beds … once last spray of any weed that might be growing in-between the cement or rocks. And then of course the raking of leaves will begin and a few last lawn mowings. I like a clean, tidy look for winter.

AND, this year, for the first time I am planting flower seeds for spring!!!!!!! :-) Thanks to my friends here!!!!!

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Cutting back my perennials and DH’s roses.
Weeding one last time, pulling the annuals with the weeds.
Vaccuuming/shredding the leaves to use as mulch in all the beds.
Emptying planters.
Moving the donkey cart, bird bath, fountain, fireplace and patio chairs into the shed.
Unburying the snow shovel and the bucket of rock salt.
Already moved most of what’s getting moved this time, and brought the caladium inside.
Decorating the deck for Halloween (my favorite holiday).

-- the day you quit learning is the day you quit living.

I usually empty my “pot garden” but this year I only had a few pots to do. We were away for most of July so I didn’t plant as many annuals as usual.
I also cut down a lot of the plants. However I leave some with seed heads on them so that the birds can enjoy them. I had lots of volunteer cosmos this year so I snipped off the seedheads, saved some of the seeds, and put the rest onto the bird feeder for the feathered friends to enjoy.
October is also the time to put away the garden furniture and decorations.

-- Stop by and visit my homepage at http://www.craftygardener.ca or my blog at http://craftygardener.blogspot.com/ Thanks, Linda aka Crafty Gardener

I haven’t had much time to play in the garden. Between ill health and company exams and so much rain. Geees.

Last nite I gave away 303 plants and a lot of seeds to 2 friends and a client. They did the digging of course.

I was some happy to see the plants go. I didn’t have a lot of time this year and they multipied like crazy.

Now I have more new room for other plants I want next year.

I still have beets in the garden so I need to pickle these this weekend. I did get the potatoes dug tho. I have green toms cut up for chow so need to do the onions tonight then cook and bottle it.

The grapes are disappearing in the hands of,.. er,er… raccoons and blue jays. Guess I won’t be making jelly this year.

I still have some plants to plant and a lot of cleaning up to do.

Think I will ask a couple of neighbour boys to help me Sat.

I don’t cut all the dead plants down as I like to see snow collect on them for winter interest plus the seed I leave for the birds

I did get my first watch of cedar wax wings. My trees were covered in them. I didn’t know we even had them here.

Binoculars come in handy right.!!! most of my trees are well over 200-300 ft high and people tell me they have been here for generations so guessing they are at least 100 years old if not more. One old lady told me they were here when she moved here 90 years ago. Yep, I didn’t make a mistake, she was 6 when she moved here and I moved here in 1965

So yes I have tons of work to do yet plus 15 cords of wood coming and 6 cords needs to be thrown inside and staked and the rest cut up and split and stacked for next year. I have 2 cords inside now.

I lost a lot of weight so now nothing fits so a truck load of clothes to get fixed plus another shopping trip.

Then I hope this is all done by oct 30 as then it is back to knitting, Christmas gifts to finish and more shopping to do. I have a little done.

I just spent last weekend with my youngest daughter in Halifax and my grandson. Ooops his 5th birthday is Oct 30 so must not forget that.

I am sure all of you are as busy as I am

cheers

-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.

Oh my goodness, Bunting, I’m exhausted just reading your list of ‘things to get done’!!

-- 'To plant a Garden is to believe in Tomorrow'

oh Gosh I wish that was all. Hoses to get in, mower , wheelbarrows and tools to get in. Lawn furniture, as well.

another exam in Nov. Deep breath sister, lol,lol Exams are not easy so much to remember for every day work weeks easy but much more technical with exams. Stock markets, mutuals funds and every type of investments and histories off since 1923 and what to do in a case of as USA as now.

3 bales of straw to get down before winter on the gardens, best mulch one can use, plus cut pine bows. That can be done in Dec tho but hate the cold. Last year it snowed too early and didnt’ get the bows cut or laid. So if I cut hem in NOv this time they will be still fresh in Dec providing it doesn’t snow in Nov like it did last year which is not normal. Most times we don’t get snow til after New years

I live alone and work full time so this means days are not long enough and energy runs out. Huff and puff. lol,lol

-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.

There are not enough hours in the day, Bunting. And as one “matures”, we find there are even less. Reading your “gotta do list”, makes me think about going to bed, ... and it is only 7:33 p.m.

There must be an easier way….

-- jroot

Yes Jroot there must be an easier way and it is, not make all this work for myself or sell this place.

But living in an apartment I shrudder. No pets or gardening. It would kill me no to have them or to garden. I have 4 acres but garden on 2.

can’t have my kitties or have a puff of cigs not dope, lol,lol yes I have the habit but mostly I can’t have a pet in an apartment or flowers or fresh veggies. Drats!!! but the day is coming….

-- NS Zone 5B 200 KM East of Halifax cheers Bunting------Having a place to go – is a home. Having someone to love – is a family.

I hear you… and understand.

-- jroot

I started my Oct. chores today.
Dug up, washed and brought in to dry before storing…Canna,Eucomis,chocolate cosmos.
Cut last boquet for this season and put in vase.
Still to do
Pull out rest of berm flowers
Put new larger rocks around berm
Finish collecting the last of the seeds I need
Plant some of the seeds in new places for next year
Trim one of the clematis
Put halloween decorations out.
Turn off outside taps and put hose away
Test snow blower to see if it still works ok
Winterize boat and motor
winterize van
put away pots and ornaments
pull annuals from other gardens
fall weeding
Just to mention a few. ha ha ha

-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more

Okay, I am tired just READING your list Bon!!! hahaha!!!

October … buy NEW snowblower cuz of course our old one has died BEFORE we move out West … ;-)

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

these lists are great. When I get to my gardens again I can use these lists to make sure I have everything :)

Gram… now that’s a Murphy’s law isn’t .. have to buy a new one just before not needing one.. sigh

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

at the risk of repeating

remove everything from the garden, till it and dump manure over the entire area…...this year I might expand it by plowing a few more rows.

already split all my big hostas, plant a dozen or so potted three year old hardwood seedling trees

take the Koi’s inside and putin the aquarium…...the pond plants stay in the pond, freeze rock solid and so far they have always lived

drive to a few neighbors and get a few dozen free perrenials

put plywood teepee type covers over my japanese maples

mulch all my plants that are prone to that are “iffy” in my zone

pot all my extremely “iffy” plants and put in the covered porch area

put snow fencing up at the entrance to the driveway and entrance to the barn

collect asparagus seeds for winter drying

remove plants from all the pots, put the soil into the new gardens and stopre pots

hoses away

pound compressed air through the auto sprinkler system

drain and turn off all the outdoor taps

burn all the plants/garden veggies that have mold, burn all the maple leaves that have spots on them

put a few steel re-rods out along the driveway so folks dont drive into the ditches

put the chains on the tractor

winterize the weed eater, the lawnmowers, boat, etc

cancell the papers

thank god for Florida where the inlaws go for the winter

-- Central northish Ontario

these lists are great! Thanks everyone

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Roman says, ”collect asparagus seeds for winter drying”. I have never thought of that. When do you plant the new ones?

-- jroot

I start them in February/March indoors and plant outside after the last frost. The first year you barely see them and it can take up to 7 years (pending what zone your in) before you can pick it and eat it.

Five years ago I planted my asparagus, one row was already here when we moved and is apparently about 25 years old being moved twice in that time. The 5 year old plants should be able to be picked next spring.

If you “hill” the asparagus when it grows it stays white, not as good for you as green but very tasty.

Cheers

-- Central northish Ontario

Thanks, Roman

-- jroot

I was going to ask the same thing!

re: transplanting. I have to move one of my rows of asparagus. Do I do that in the spring?

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

blueberries—cover soil around the bushes with mulched leaves (the rotting leaves will help keep the acidity level in the soil high, as needed by the blueberries)

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

water barrels : empty the water barrels so they don’t freeze this winter

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

I’ve moved asparagus in the spring and fall, for that matter in the heat of midsummer….no problems.

If I empty my water barrells the wind will park them in the next county.

Theres an inch of snow on the back deck and I have yet to empty my pots…..............&%$@ !

Chains on the tractor tires.

I love spring summer and fall…..............but winter is a whole nuther ball game

-- Central northish Ontario

brrrrr.

it’s really cold and windy today. We aren’t supposed to get the snow, though. (Thank goodness). We see it on the weather map though.

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

Oh well that is incentive to get my “happy butt” outside and finish putting my gardens to rest. Just been prograstinating …

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

like I till have to close in two sides of the shed part of the barn

insulate the roof of the chicken coop

grease the snow blowers

one more snow fence

put my Koi’s into the aquarium…............and set the aquarium up

pickle the rest of the beets

did I mention I have a day job too

-- Central northish Ontario

yikes… I couldn’t do it all….. nope.. couldn’t get it all done

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

guess I won’t complain with the “little” I have to do … geez “R”, just tired READING your list … LOL!!!!

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

Sorry to be a spoilsport but down here we plant a winter garden in late Sept.- mid Oct. Onions, radishes, lettuce, spinach, maybe some carrots, you know, that kind of stuff. It will get below freezing but only for a few hours, so cover it and you’re good. bbqKing.

-- As always, bbqKing. Lawrenceville, Ga.

Nah, no “spoilsport” bbqking … lucky you!!! LOL!!!!

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b

the bbq

except for the rare occasion

down 4 the season…............nzzzzz

-- Central northish Ontario

spoilsport :(
heheh but silver lining: we get a break! Yah.. just picture us lazing around doing nothing, bundled up in our woolies, noses running, bodies shivering, trudging through feet of snow, scraping ice off of our windshields!
Yup… we get a break from gardening … nah nah nah nah nah :P

haha

-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a)

LOL!!! I think you said it ALL, MsDeb … LOL!!! Yah, that is us, living it up from that gardening break …

-- "A perfect garden is just a garden to be in-perfection. Mornings to work on it and evenings to pause and look at it." Southeast Michigan, Zone 5a/5b